PSMD – Chapter 146

However, Qin Yu also knew that Shen Ningruo didn’t mind this. In fact, if others knew she had a same-sex partner, it might even reduce the number of suitors.

But the other staff members were stunned for a moment when they heard this, only figuring out what it meant after some thought.

Qiu Yang had already sat down with Shen Ningruo during this time. Ke Yezi was on her right, and Qin Yu was on Shen Ningruo’s left.

“Everyone, enjoy the meal!” Qin Yu started.

Ke Yezi smiled beside them. She glanced at Shen Ningruo and Qiu Yang, showing a satisfied smile, then raised her water cup towards Qiu Yang and said, “Department Head Qiu, long time no see.”

Qiu Yang also smiled, “Long time no see. The next time you see me, I won’t be a department head anymore.”

Ke Yezi had also heard about this. Besides surprise, she was still surprised, because she hadn’t expected such a novel-like story to happen to Qiu Yang.

But she could also understand Qiu Yang’s choice.

“Congratulations,” Ke Yezi sincerely congratulated.

“Thank you, Manager Ke.”

Shen Ningruo cleared her throat, shifted her knee to the right, and nudged Qiu Yang’s knee.

Qiu Yang turned her head, “What’s wrong?”

Shen Ningruo furrowed her brow, “You sat down next to me and haven’t said a word to me.”

Qiu Yang chuckled, “My dear Director Shen, I was wrong. President Qin’s words just now stunned me, I didn’t react.”

Even though the private room was noisy at the moment, Qin Yu had sharp ears and naturally heard Qiu Yang’s words.

“Miss Qiu,” Qin Yu swirled the wine in his glass. He didn’t have any events to participate in, so he drank casually. “I couldn’t possibly stand by and watch you two be so far apart under the same roof.”

Shen Ningruo shot him a sideways glance, “So you just publicly outed me?”

“Your closet door is made of paper,” Qin Yu retorted. “Wasn’t your behavior in the stadium today obvious enough? Did I need to kick it open?”

That’s true.

As soon as Shen Ningruo had free time, she would go and sit next to Qiu Yang, breaking many people’s impressions of her.

Shen Ningruo raised an eyebrow, “Alright, then I won’t argue with you.”

Qin Yu scoffed, “You wouldn’t argue with me anyway.”

“Ruoruo, what do you want to eat? I’ll get it for you.” Qiu Yang couldn’t stand watching the two of them bicker like elementary school kids anymore and quickly spoke up to change the subject.

Shen Ningruo’s attention was indeed drawn away, and she cooperatively answered Qiu Yang’s question.

During the meal, some people took the opportunity to toast Qin Yu and Shen Ningruo with drinks, and others came to say some reluctant goodbyes to Qiu Yang.

As soon as the afternoon competition ended, Qiu Yang had to return to the company to handle her resignation. Once the official stamp was applied, she would leave Wanming Company.

Qiu Yang had been at Wanming for over four years. The colleagues present weren’t her closest friends, but they had all discussed projects together.

Qiu Yang thanked them one by one, expressing gratitude for their tolerance, and finally wished everyone promotions, salary increases, and a bright future.

This break and gathering unexpectedly felt more like a farewell meal. After it ended, Qiu Yang felt a bit worried inside.

Money had always been very important to her. If she hadn’t had money from part-time jobs back then, she wouldn’t have been able to pay tuition, nor would she have been able to escape her uncle’s family.

But a week ago, she had directly given away 250,000, significantly reducing her savings. Now, coupled with her resignation, she inevitably felt a decrease in her sense of security.

Shen Ningruo’s money was her own and had nothing to do with Qiu Yang. Moreover, she was currently living in Shen Ningruo’s home without paying any rent.

Qiu Yang had always kept these things very clear. Therefore, during the time others were competing in the afternoon, she was thinking about what to do next.

As she had said before, she was going to enter a photography competition. If she won, she would get prize money, and her work would be displayed at an exhibition.

But that was based on the premise of “winning.” She actually wasn’t very confident and didn’t think she would win.

So, would she just waste this waiting time?

Moreover, the preliminary round of this photography competition was next month, followed by the final round in September, totaling three months.

She probably needed to rest for a while first, then start looking for a new job.

“Department Head Qiu,” Ke Yezi walked over with a bottle of water while she was thinking. “Would you like some water?”

Qiu Yang looked up slightly, took the bottle of water, and watched Ke Yezi sit down beside her. “Thank you.”

Ke Yezi had just finished an event. She hadn’t worn makeup today and came with a bare face. Now, her face looked a bit red from the exercise, and there was a layer of sweat on her forehead. She wiped it while smiling, “Department Head Qiu, congratulations, you’re temporarily free.”

“Thank you.”

“Quitting without a job lined up is a very satisfying thing.”

Ke Yezi’s eyes curved into a smile, “I think so too, but I haven’t tried it. I’ve been at Qiyao ever since I graduated.”

“That’s great. After today, others will have a three-day Dragon Boat Festival holiday, but you can take off whenever you want.”

“Yes.” Qiu Yang also smiled. Her gaze was on Shen Ningruo not far away.

The 50-meter race was about to start. Shen Ningruo was getting ready. As if sensing her gaze, Shen Ningruo looked over and gave her a bright and confident smile.

Ke Yezi also saw this smile, but she didn’t think Shen Ningruo was smiling at her. She rested her chin in her hand, her elbow on her knee, and asked Qiu Yang in a slightly muffled voice, “Department Head Qiu, what do you think is the meaning of life?”

Qiu Yang was taken aback by the question. She turned her head to look at Ke Yezi and saw that Ke Yezi’s expression and eyes were a bit lost.

Qiu Yang blinked, pondered for a moment, and shook her head, “I don’t know, I’ve been searching too.”

“But perhaps, searching for meaning is one of the meanings of life.”

But after Ke Yezi asked this, she understood why Ke Yezi had come over to sit with her.

It was probably because some questions and confusions weren’t suitable to discuss with friends, and even less so with a superior. Ke Yezi’s relationship with her was just average, and since she was about to resign, she was a good person to confide in.

People often entrust some vulnerable emotions to those they will never see again in the future.

“Manager Ke,” Qiu Yang added, “I think you don’t need to dwell on this. Being content with the present is good enough.”

“Then are you content, Department Head Qiu?”

“Yes, I am.”

“That’s really good,” Ke Yezi pursed her lips. “I’ve worked with the Director for a long time. Before she met you, she basically never smiled. But after meeting you, she occasionally smiles. Speaking of which, Department Head Qiu, when I first saw the Director smile, I thought a world miracle had happened.”

“Manager Ke, you…”

“…what exactly are you trying to say?”

Ke Yezi coughed, saying somewhat awkwardly, “Uh, I didn’t mean anything else. I just wanted to say I’m a fan of you and the Director as a couple.”

Qiu Yang rubbed her forehead, “And then?”

“And then I wanted to know how you two met. I’ve never seen such a well-matched couple before,” Ke Yezi said seriously. “I also want to find love, but my luck isn’t very good. The ones I like are all jerks. I want to catch some of your good fortune.”

Qiu Yang was speechless for a moment. If she had to say how she and Shen Ningruo met, she couldn’t quite articulate it.

She clearly remembered the words Shen Ningruo said when she confessed to her back then.

Was what happened between them a coincidence or inevitable?

Qiu Yang couldn’t say for sure.

The competition came to an end at 3 PM. Shen Ningruo had been resting for a while, and Qiu Yang and Ke Yezi had finished their conversation long ago.

Qin Yu was quite good at creating buzz. He even specially invited an athlete friend to present the awards, making the scene very harmonious.

After it ended, there was a cheer inside the venue, because it meant work was over.

The three-day Dragon Boat Festival holiday thus began.

Ten minutes later, Qiu Yang got into Shen Ningruo’s car. She couldn’t go straight home but had to go to the company.

“What did Ke Yezi talk to you about?” Shen Ningruo asked curiously, holding the steering wheel.

Qiu Yang looked ahead, “Her? She was beating around the bush, but she was actually asking me for relationship advice, but I didn’t have much to say.”

“Tsk.”

“I didn’t expect Ke Yezi to look so proper on the surface, but actually…”

Shen Ningruo didn’t finish her sentence, but they both knew what she meant.

Ke Yezi also had quite a contrast.

However, the closer they got to Wanming Company, the more nervous Qiu Yang became. Looking at the increasingly familiar streets around her, her emotions became more complex.

She was reluctant to leave this company, but thinking of Qiu Yan and Wen Yuan, that reluctance turned into determination.

No one would have trouble with money, but some people would have trouble with “feelings” (or “relationships”).

Family affection was what Qiu Yang had once most longed to have, but in the end, it was also family affection that hurt her the most.

She hadn’t even truly possessed it before it drifted away with the wind.

The root of everything was simply that Qiu Yan could have contacted her earlier but never did.

Qiu Yang closed her eyes, and Qiu Yan’s face appeared before her again. She slowly exhaled, and when she opened her eyes again, Shen Ningruo’s car had stopped by the roadside.

“I’ll go with you,” Shen Ningruo unbuckled her seatbelt.

Qiu Yang quickly stopped her, “Just wait for me in the car, I’ll be down soon.”

“Okay.”

The sun was still scorching now, and the heat rising from the ground formed a natural steamer. Qiu Yang felt like she had become a small steamed bun or dumpling.

Holding her umbrella, she quickly escaped from the scorching sun and reached the office building lobby.

It wasn’t yet time to get off work, and she was the only one waiting for the elevator. After entering, Qiu Yang pressed the familiar floor number. Her fingertips stiffened for a moment, then she lowered her eyelids.

While the elevator ascended, her mind was a bit chaotic, and she automatically started recalling the bits and pieces of her time at Wanming.

She had gained a lot of confidence and happiness here. She had also made some friends. Even though Qu Yan ultimately betrayed her, she was still happy during that earlier period.

Qiu Yang sighed again.

The elevator arrived, and the doors slid open.

What came into view was the Wanming Company logo, and Gu Lan buried in her work. It was a pity that after today, she wouldn’t see any of this again.

Gu Lan heard the movement and looked up. She knew Qiu Yang was here to handle her resignation today and couldn’t help but feel a little sad.

Qiu Yang walked over and patted her shoulder, “I won’t be going out for the Dragon Boat Festival, come over and play with Pingzi.”

“Okay!” Gu Lan nodded with red-rimmed eyes.

Qiu Yang turned and entered the company, walking towards the HR manager’s office. But after reaching it and pushing the door open, she saw Wen Yuan, whom she hadn’t seen for the past few days, was also there.